Derived from vitamin A, retinoids — such as tretinoin (Retin-A, Renova, Avita) — that you apply to your skin may improve the appearance of stretch marks less than a few months old. Tretinoin, when it works, helps to rebuild a protein in the skin called collagen, making the stretch marks look more like your normal skin.
Results: After 2 months, patients treated with tretinoin had significant improvements in severity scores of stretch marks compared with patients who received vehicle (P < .
When retinoids are massaged nightly into striae rubra, the appearance and texture of the lesions can improve significantly. In fact, the use of 0.1% tretinoin for the treatment of striae rubra has been established as effective for more than a decade.
According to a variety of studies, stretch mark cream has very little proven effectiveness. It might help slightly reduce the appearance of stretch marks, but none have been scientifically proven to completely remove the marks.
In two large studies, applying hyaluronic acid to early stretch marks made the stretch marks less noticeable. Tretinoin is a retinoid, which may also make early stretch marks less noticeable. In one study, people who applied this prescription cream every night for 24 weeks had less noticeable stretch marks.
Whether prescription or over-the-counter, these ointments can help reduce the appearance of loose skin around the abdomen. Products that contain retinol can improve elasticity, while prescription creams boost collagen production.
These two anti-aging ingredients aren't entirely different. In fact, retinol is a type of retinoid. However, retinoid most often describes more powerful prescription products, while retinol generally refers to weaker over-the-counter (OTC) formulas. As board certified dermatologist Dr.
0.3% – a relatively low but effective dose of retinol. "0.3% retinol is enough to give a good effect but also enough not to put the skin at risk or irritate the skin," continued Abi. "There are creams out there formulated at 1% and 2% but in my experience consumers don't always use retinol properly.
The difference in color distinguishes how old the marks are. Though they may never disappear completely, treatment can lighten the color of your marks and shrink them. In other cases, stretch marks fade away on their own. Newer, red-tinged stretch marks (striae rubra) are easier to treat.
Daily massaging the affected areas with creams or lotions containing petroleum jelly helps promote new tissue growth and break down the bands of collagen that are responsible for stretch marks.
Retinoids work best if you use them daily. Specifically, they should be used at night because some types are deactivated by light and air. It's important to start slowly and allow your skin time to adjust. Using too much too quickly can cause redness, dryness, and irritation.
The fact is, most topical retinoid serums tend to contain higher concentrations of the active ingredient. They also tend to be light to the touch and rarely leave behind a sticky residue. So in that case, it does appear that a serum is the “better” choice over a topical retinoid cream.
Don't Mix: Retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids. AHA and BHA acids are exfoliating, which can dry out skin and cause further irritation if your skincare routine already includes retinol.
Unfortunately, many of the over-the-counter retinol-based creams won't do much for skin tightening, while they will help improve texture and tone. The same applies to Vitamin C and AHA products, which help exfoliate and are an essential part to a good skin care regimen.
A product that contains 0.3% retinol may also have some effect on cellulite. Some women who've used it say they see a little less cellulite. Retinol can help thicken the skin, which may reduce how much cellulite you see.
Many people develop stretch marks on the inner and outer thighs. These occur when the skin stretches due to weight gain, muscle growth, or medical conditions, and they usually fade over time. Stretch marks are very common and are a normal part of life, especially during adolescence and pregnancy.
Stretch marks often fade over time and become unnoticeable. For women who develop stretch marks in pregnancy, these usually become less noticeable around 6 to 12 months after giving birth. Makeup can be used to conceal stretch marks on more exposed areas of the body while they are more pronounced.
Pull your skin taut with one hand and start dermarolling stretch marks with the other. Make sure you go over each area eight to ten times in one direction, and another eight to ten rolls in the opposite direction. Don't overdo it, though.
If you've ever wondered why celebs don't have stretch marks, the big secret is lasers and NanaoFractional RF. Stretch marks are formed in the middle layer of the skin, called the dermis, which is the area that determines the shape of the skin.
Stretch marks are permanent in nature, and although Bio-Oil Skincare Oil is formulated to help improve their appearance, it can never remove them.